Nevada basketball projected as a four seed in NCAA Tournament

In the NCAA bracket reveal announced on CBS today, the sixth ranked University of Nevada men’s basketball team is a projected as a four seed and would be in the south region in Louisville, Ky. The top for seeds in the south are (1) Tennessee, (2) North Carolina, (3) Purdue and (4) Nevada

The Wolf Pack are off to the best start in school history at 22-1 under fourth-year head coach Eric Musselman and lead the Mountain West with a 9-1 record. The 9-1 MW record is tied for the best start in school history that was first accomplished last season. The Pack has been to the last two NCAA Tournaments under Musselman and advanced to Nevada’s second Sweet 16 a year ago.

The Pack has won the last two MW regular season titles and could become the first school in conference history to win three outright titles. Nevada has won its last eight games by an average of 19 points and 14 in a row at home.

The Wolf Pack are led by seniors that include Jordan Caroline, Caleb Martin, Cody Martin, Tre’Shawn Thurman, Tre Porter and Corey Henson. Caroline and Caleb Martin were named to Wooden Award late season top 20 watch list. Caleb Martin is a top 10 finalist for the Julius Erving award that honors the small forward of the year. Cody Martin is a top 10 finalist for the Bob Cousy Award that selects the point guard of the year.

Caroline and Caleb Martin lead the Pack averaging 19.3 points per game. Junior Jazz Johnson’s 11.2 points per game is third on the squad while Cody Martin is averaging 11. 1 points per game to give the Pack four players that score in double figures. Cody Martin leads the MW dishing out 5.4 assists per game as does his 3.0 assist turnover ratio.

Nevada hosts New Mexico tonight at 3 p.m. at Lawlor Events Center. The Lobos are the only team to defeat the Wolf Pack this season.